Do Mean Girls make Mean Nurses

[CSARmedic]

[h=1]Are mean girls getting meaner? Teens open up about bullying[/h]http://www.today.com/moms/are-mean-girls-getting-meaner-teens-open-about-bullying-8C11417897?ocid=msnhp&pos=1

I just read this article and starting thinking if some (many) of these women will gravitate to nursing. I know that nursing is full of bullies and unprofessional behavior so I got to thinking if there could be a correlation. I mean OF COURSE there is a correlation but nothing based on emperics. Just a hunch and gut feeling. I was basically run out of nursing by these behaviors (I refused to put up with it after a while and the different standards of behavior I was subjected too) but was wondering how many other people experienced it also.

[smurfynursey]

I have encountered bullying...however I would echo others in that this is common in any workplace, especially when dominated by women.

To the OP,

Thank you for your service to our country!

[Do-over, ASN, RN]

I have encountered bullying...however I would echo others in that this is common in any workplace, especially when dominated by women.

What nursing really seems to be dominated by, is misogyny.

[mamagui]

What nursing really seems to be dominated by, is misogyny.

Agreed- it is rather insulting to say that women are the source of bullying. Men are perfectly capable of bullying and making a work environment miserable.

[NicuGal, MSN, RN]

Mean people generally back down when confronted. That has been my experience. Especially ones at work. And TJC has a huge stance on bullying in the workplace and where I work it is not tolerated. You are only a victim if you allow yourself to be. I do think that women in general tend to carry things on and on, just like in high school. Girls carry a grudge, boys generally knock the crap out if each other and move on. Not saying that is what we need to do, but I have found men are more straightforward. Just almost 30 years of experience talking. I had one nurse who was always on me when I was a new grad, I finally turned on her, gave it back and she never said another word about anything. Bullies are cowards.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

What nursing really seems to be dominated by, is misogyny.

My biggest problem with this post is that I can only "like" it once. It continues to shock me how mant nurses are misogynists!

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

Mean people generally back down when confronted. That has been my experience. Especially ones at work. And TJC has a huge stance on bullying in the workplace and where I work it is not tolerated. You are only a victim if you allow yourself to be. I do think that women in general tend to carry things on and on, just like in high school. Girls carry a grudge, boys generally knock the crap out if each other and move on. Not saying that is what we need to do, but I have found men are more straightforward. Just almost 30 years of experience talking. I had one nurse who was always on me when I was a new grad, I finally turned on her, gave it back and she never said another word about anything. Bullies are cowards.

And apparently they don't recognize misogyny in themselves!

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

I know nursing is a female dominated profession and that there is this idea of this mean girl nursing crew - but I haven't yet to run into it. In a way, nursing/medicine/hospital culture is rather abrasive just due to the nature/stress and responsibility placed on the workers. Honestly, I hate to say it but the worst bullying I've seen isn't in nursing. It is in medicine.

Doctors, are freaking brutal to one another. There is nothing in the world that would make me want to be an intern or resident. Especially in any surgical specialty. I've seen doctors chew one another out and strive to humiliate each other/their residents/or interns in front of entire operating rooms. I'm sorry that you had a terrible experience with nursing. It makes me sad to hear that.

However, I really don't believe that bullying is unique to the nursing profession. I've heard terrible things about a variety of disciplines from university faculty members to firefighters in terms of bullying. It happens in male dominated professions as well - however, I have found that men (and many women in male dominated professions) are a lot less likely to speak up about being bullied than women (especially those in female dominated professions where we don't have to come off as tough stuff).

Just my 2 cents. Again, I'm really sorry that you had a bad experience with bully nurses.

Agree.

I think we hear about bullying from women than men; just as we hear more about survivors of rape and domestic violence from women.

"Hazing" and the issues from that have been of watch for many years, and it has finally caught up to the professional setting; it's not exclusive to nursing...there are many walks of life with aggressive behaviors and issues with controlling their emotions and the extraneous environmental factors that go along with it; they next step is WHAT can be done in terms of promoting sustainable working environments where people are trusting of their coworkers, without resorting to "hazing", as well as promoting a positive work environment.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

The problem with zero tolerance policies is that they become knee jerk reactions.

Anything can be taken as bullying these days. Some people cannot take any sort of criticism and will run to tell anyone who will listen that they're being bullied anytime they get their feelings hurt.

And no one is excluding men from the profession, there just happen to be fewer men in it. I don't think simply adding more men would fix anything. If you think that this is a female or nursing unique problem, remember all the men who stepped on people during their climb up the corporate ladder.

THIS a MILLION times!!!

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

I have encountered bullying...however I would echo others in that this is common in any workplace, especially when dominated by women.

To the OP,

Thank you for your service to our country!

I think men can be every bit as catty and cruel as any woman. I just have seen so much of this from men that I can't accept the premise that women are worse than men in this regard. Just my 2 cents.

[Not_A_Hat_Person, RN]

Mean Girls turn into Mean Women, then (if they live long enough) Mean Old Ladies.

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

OP, I admire you for your strength and resilience while deployed. My hubby was a medic in the 82nd, and I can understand (only peripherally) what you are describing. He jumped into some pretty heinous territory during his time in the Army.

I think it would be helpful for all of us to understand what your definition of "bullying" entails. Were you sabotaged in some way? Were you wrongly accused of a mistake? What experiences did you have that you considered "deceitful"? What course of action did you take prior to throwing in the towel?

You mentioned that "men try and men fail in nursing due to factors beyond our control and ability to adapt". What factors did you target as beyond your control? Why do you think that you couldn't adapt? Did you talk to some of your colleagues? What kind of support did your nurse manager give you?

[shamrock3]

Wow! those nurses were really mean to you. Really there are a lot more nice and compassionate nurses then mean ones, sorry you had a bad experience. I too have ones that act inappropriately at times, but I work with them, they are not my friends. I wouldn't give up my job for them either. Men are entering nursing at a increased rate in the more recent years and give it time there will be a better balance between the two. Move to another facility and explore a better experience in nursing. Also, as an Army Mom of a son in the 82nd AB, thank you for your service.